At Blogfest back in November last year, I attended a fantastic session called "Cracking yarns and tall tales: how to tell a better story". Among others, on the panel was Lionel Schriver, one of my favourite authors. I looked at them all in awe and wondered what it's like to be able to call yourself a writer. The most important thing that I learned from the session was that in order to be a writer, you need to write, constantly. Most of what you write will never be read, but you need to keep writing in order to be able to produce the content that will be.
For the last few years, November has come along and I've followed the progress of people that I know taking part in Nanowrimo - National Novel Writing Month, where participants sign up with the aim of completing a novel in a month. I've seen people that I know publish books, for example my brother and his novel Enlightenment. I wonder if I could challenge myself to have a go one day.
I haven't tried it, because I tell myself that I don't have the time to spend hours writing every day. But the truth is that I spend plenty of time working on this blog, not to mention time spent faffing about on social media, and if I made the effort I probably could find the time to write the 50,000 words required.
But I just don't think that I do have a novel in me. I have no idea whatsoever what I would write about. I'm also very self-conscious about what I write. I can write detailed blog posts full of information on places that we've visited, or instructions on how to do a simple craft, but I'm stuck when it comes to fiction. I used to love creative writing at school, and I don't think I was too bad at it, but I'm not sure I could keep the momentum going for an entire novel.
Do you think you have a novel inside you?
I think that maybe I have a kiddie story - short and sweet, but don't think I could write a whole novel though ;-)
ReplyDeletePerhaps I could start with a children's story, although with fewer words it might actually be more difficult to make sure that every word is relevant, I do have a tendency to waffle!
DeleteIt's not as daunting as you think once you get going. It's a lot harder without NaNoWriMo to drive you. You forget all of your blocks and hangups and just go for the words.
ReplyDeleteI think that's my trouble, I do have a lot of hangups and lack confidence in what I write. I just imagine family and friends reading it and what they would think, rather than just letting myself go!
DeleteNot a novel, but I have written three knitting pattern books!
ReplyDeleteI think that's brilliant!
DeleteI had an idea for a novel years ago and am only now finding the confidence to start writing it. It will be a slow process as I have enough trouble finding time to write sporadic blogs, let alone a huge chunk of science fiction. Maybe you'll have an idea for a novel one day, Jennifer but if you don't it doesn't matter, you're writing and being read and it might just be that fiction's not your thing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your novel! I think I definitely am better at writing non-fiction and I enjoy writing blog posts which are full of information, hints and tips, that sort of thing. Perhaps I should explore options for that sort of writing!
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